Archive of rehearsal letters sent (2019)
January 31, 2018
Dear Carnegie Hill Members:
I hope you are not too frozen! If you are, just “Let It Go…” Practice the Haydn Symphony movement. I am adding a repeat of the assignment from last week:
The Russian Sailor’s Dance by Gliere. Practice this important musical expression: In the main tune of the piece (seen here in the cello part) make sure to really observe the accents. MAKE THEM OBVIOUS!
FIND THIS FIGURE IN YOUR PART...
Dear Carnegie Hill Members:
I hope you are not too frozen! If you are, just “Let It Go…” Practice the Haydn Symphony movement. I am adding a repeat of the assignment from last week:
The Russian Sailor’s Dance by Gliere. Practice this important musical expression: In the main tune of the piece (seen here in the cello part) make sure to really observe the accents. MAKE THEM OBVIOUS!
FIND THIS FIGURE IN YOUR PART...
Here are the metronome tempo markings for Russian Sailor’s Dance:
Beginning: Half-note = 70
Rehearsal # 3: Quarter note = 72
Rehearsal # 5: Quarter note = 96
Rehearsal # 7: Quarter note = 116
Rehearsal # 8: Quarter note = 88
Rehearsal # 9: Tranquillo (Tranquil, resting)
Rehearsal # 10: Presto = Quarter note = 144
Rehearsal # 12: Moving faster
Rehearsal # 14: Run! Your pants are on fire!
It is time to now start looking at the notes at near-concert or concert speed!
Here is a video of the piece played by a very good youth orchestra:
https://youtu.be/dWxcpKwOb6o
JUST FOR FUN:
Here is a video of some cellists having a good time:
https://youtu.be/JHGU49Lw-TI
The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra - the slogan in Czech says: not every thing classical is serious:
https://youtu.be/2qEJzHdrkQg
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beginning: Half-note = 70
Rehearsal # 3: Quarter note = 72
Rehearsal # 5: Quarter note = 96
Rehearsal # 7: Quarter note = 116
Rehearsal # 8: Quarter note = 88
Rehearsal # 9: Tranquillo (Tranquil, resting)
Rehearsal # 10: Presto = Quarter note = 144
Rehearsal # 12: Moving faster
Rehearsal # 14: Run! Your pants are on fire!
It is time to now start looking at the notes at near-concert or concert speed!
Here is a video of the piece played by a very good youth orchestra:
https://youtu.be/dWxcpKwOb6o
JUST FOR FUN:
Here is a video of some cellists having a good time:
https://youtu.be/JHGU49Lw-TI
The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra - the slogan in Czech says: not every thing classical is serious:
https://youtu.be/2qEJzHdrkQg
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 18, 2018 Letter
Dear Carnegie Hill Members:
The Russian Sailor’s Dance by Gliere. Teaching point: In the main tune of the piece (seen here in the cello part) make sure to really observe the accents. MAKE THEM OBVIOUS!
FIND THIS FIGURE IN YOUR PART...
Dear Carnegie Hill Members:
The Russian Sailor’s Dance by Gliere. Teaching point: In the main tune of the piece (seen here in the cello part) make sure to really observe the accents. MAKE THEM OBVIOUS!
FIND THIS FIGURE IN YOUR PART...
Rondeau by Mouret
Focus on finding short notes, especially when you don’t have the main tune!
The articulations from the Rondeau (the “attack” notes of the first section) and the parts that some instruments have with slurs - remember that there is a space between the pairs of notes that are slurred. It is not smooth but actually more like a smooth note connected to a short note so the audience hears the pairs of notes.)
________________________________________________________________________
MURMURATION:
I spoke of precision within your section during the rehearsal and used the term “murmuration” - I mentioned that thousands of starlings (a type of bird) fly in precise “clouds” and they swoop and turn with great precision. Here is a short YouTube video of starlings in murmuration:
https://youtu.be/QOGCSBh3kmM
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Test word used it the last rehearsal: Lugubrious
Used in a sentence: “The cellos played with heavy, long notes that sounded lugubrious.”
Look up the word!
Musical links:
I am including a few links here (you can also find the links and more on my professional website where your orchestra has a page: www.stevenrochen.com)
Rondeau:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbj_7pQrmsM
Russian Sailor’s Dance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OZ6KwqQ2I4
Steven Rochen
Good luck in this weekend’s snow!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Focus on finding short notes, especially when you don’t have the main tune!
The articulations from the Rondeau (the “attack” notes of the first section) and the parts that some instruments have with slurs - remember that there is a space between the pairs of notes that are slurred. It is not smooth but actually more like a smooth note connected to a short note so the audience hears the pairs of notes.)
________________________________________________________________________
MURMURATION:
I spoke of precision within your section during the rehearsal and used the term “murmuration” - I mentioned that thousands of starlings (a type of bird) fly in precise “clouds” and they swoop and turn with great precision. Here is a short YouTube video of starlings in murmuration:
https://youtu.be/QOGCSBh3kmM
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Test word used it the last rehearsal: Lugubrious
Used in a sentence: “The cellos played with heavy, long notes that sounded lugubrious.”
Look up the word!
Musical links:
I am including a few links here (you can also find the links and more on my professional website where your orchestra has a page: www.stevenrochen.com)
Rondeau:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbj_7pQrmsM
Russian Sailor’s Dance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OZ6KwqQ2I4
Steven Rochen
Good luck in this weekend’s snow!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 9, 2019
Dear Carnegie Hill Members:
Nice job at the first rehearsal of 2019 - I look forward to a good second semester of rehearsals and performances!
First pieces: we worked today on the Rondeau by Mouret and The Russian Sailor’s Dance by Gliere.
Focus points: The articulations from the Rondeau (the “attack” notes of the first section) and the parts that some instruments have with slurs - remember that there is a space between the pairs of notes that are slurred. It is not smooth but actually more like a smooth note connected to a short note so the audience hears the pairs of notes.)
I spoke of the cold in Russia with the example of throwing boiling water into the air to make artificial snow. Well, here is a video of someone doing just that in - 41C weather in Russia
https://youtu.be/jKMNSvpB9dY
Musical links:
I am including a few links here (you can also find the links and more on my professional website where your orchestra has a page: www.stevenrochen.com)
Rondeau:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbj_7pQrmsM
Russian Sailor’s Dance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OZ6KwqQ2I4
Steven Rochen
Wishing for a musical winter!
Dear Carnegie Hill Members:
Nice job at the first rehearsal of 2019 - I look forward to a good second semester of rehearsals and performances!
First pieces: we worked today on the Rondeau by Mouret and The Russian Sailor’s Dance by Gliere.
Focus points: The articulations from the Rondeau (the “attack” notes of the first section) and the parts that some instruments have with slurs - remember that there is a space between the pairs of notes that are slurred. It is not smooth but actually more like a smooth note connected to a short note so the audience hears the pairs of notes.)
I spoke of the cold in Russia with the example of throwing boiling water into the air to make artificial snow. Well, here is a video of someone doing just that in - 41C weather in Russia
https://youtu.be/jKMNSvpB9dY
Musical links:
I am including a few links here (you can also find the links and more on my professional website where your orchestra has a page: www.stevenrochen.com)
Rondeau:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbj_7pQrmsM
Russian Sailor’s Dance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OZ6KwqQ2I4
Steven Rochen
Wishing for a musical winter!